Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD prior to October 4, 2019, was denied. The appeal regarding the TDIU due to PTSD prior to October 4, 2019, was dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including unspecified anxiety disorder and schizophrenia, had their onset in service. The claim is granted as the criteria for service connection are met.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for an initial disability rating of 50 percent for post traumatic headaches. The application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Issues related to residuals of a stroke, right cornea disability, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include a specified anxiety disorder is granted. The Veteran's peptic ulcer (duodenal) with adenomatous polyp of the duodenum status post Whipple procedure is also granted at a 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability prior to April 20, 2009. The case is referred to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, TDIU, and nonservice-connected pension benefits due to incomplete development. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions regarding service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, as well as entitlement to death pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other specified trauma and stress related disorder have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for anxiety. The issues of service connection for PTSD, depression, and other specified trauma and stress related disorder are being remanded to determine if the symptoms are separate from those of anxiety.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed all related issues.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran did not provide new and material evidence that would meet the criteria for reopening.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was granted. Evidence submitted since the July 2005 RO denial related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his sleep apnea is not related to service. The back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and a sleep disorder.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 18, 2011, as he has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding the relationship between his current psychiatric and sleep disability conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for anxiety disorder and tremors are reopened, but the issues of service connection remain pending. The issue of lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder, was granted a disability rating of 70 percent prior to August 30, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating is denied from August 30, 2017 onwards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neurobehavioral effects, including depression and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need to obtain medical records from 1980 to present.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder, effective June 1, 2019, finding that there was material improvement in her condition and she could function under ordinary conditions of life.